Well-drilling bit.



' UNTTn sTATns PATENT onirica. Y.

WILLIAM E. VJETZEL, 0F PARKERSBURG, IIVEST VIRGINIA.

WELL-DRILLING BIT.

I To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAMl E. WETznL, a citizen of the United States, residing 'at Parkersburg, in the State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Well-Drilling Bits, of which the following is a specification:`

My invention relates to the bitused mapparatus for bormgwells of great depth,sucn

through a casing smaller than 1the shaft bored.

The accompanying drawin showsa section through the bottom o a well, and through my bit in position therein, and the relative position of the elements of my device.

The bit itself' 11, has its cutting ledge flared an inch or twoatfone side 12.' A slot is cut in the bit some distance up from the cutting edge and on the side directly oppo-l site the flared edge 12. In this slot a block 13 is set, having welded on its exterior wearing surface a small piece of case hardened metal 14. Extending through the bit 11 and into then slot therein are two screw bolts 15. Around these bolts and bearing against the block 13 are placed coil springs 16.

Holesf (17), a little larger-'than bolts 15 are bored in the back of block 13 but not through it. Blocks 18, secured by screws 19, prevent the spring 16'from forcing block 13 completely out of the slot. The block 13 is made with its upper end flush with the surface of the bit when the block is in-its normal position, and from that point the block gradually extends out until at its hump 1t forms an extension equal to the extension of the flange 12.

The operation of .my drill bit is as follows: The bit is normallyl fastened at,the

end of a long heavy drill which is raised by machinery a few feet and then allowed to drop of its own weight. Each time it is raised it is turned to an angle of several degrecs so that the cutting1r edgestrikes vin a new line at each fall. The spring block 1 3 Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented-Dec. 15, 1914.

Application filed October 23, 1913. Serial No. 796,894.

is normally pressed out to its farthest point by the springs 16, so that portion 14: bears against the wall 21 of the well (20). Consequently the flanged edge 12 is kept flush with the opposite wall of the well, so that each time the bit falls the edge cuts to the wall of theshaft on one side, but not on the side directly beneath the block 13. However, as the', bit is constantly turned, any

portion thus remaining uncut is taken up by the flange after 7`it is vturned through 180 degrees. It will be observed that the cutting edge extendsconsiderably beyond the center line of the bit, so that lon account of its revolution the bit cuts completely over the bottom surface of the shaft.

In drilling in countries where the soil or stonel is comparatively soft, it often becomes necessary to drive behind the drill a casing. This'ordmarily consists of an iron pipe and must necessarily be somewhatsmaller in its -for repairs or removal by simply hoisting it,

when the bit itself comes to the lower end of the casing the upper end of the block 13 slips into the pipe and the springs 16 are compressed by the wedge-like actiony of the piping against the block, until the block is depressed entirely in its containing slot. It

will thus be seen that-my drill bit can be withdrawn through any pipe the diameter of which is not less than the length of the cutting edge of my bit. Of course, it will be understood that I may put my slot and spring block in the drill socket rather than in the bit itself, though it is desirable to have the block as near the cutting edge as possible for the better centering of the drill.

Having thus described my invention and illustratedits use, what I claim is:

1. A well drilling bit comprising a drill point having a laterally extended cutting edge at the bottom on one side, and having on the side opposite said cutting edge an entirely inclosed depressible guide-block, provided with springs for normally protruding it from a socket in the bit body, substantially as described.

2. A well drilling'bit comprising a body portionhaving a cutting edge at the bottom on one side, a substantially `horizontal socket asl in the body on the `opposite side, a flanged block itting to reciprocate horizontally in said socket and adapted to protrude beyond the surface of the bit body, inset blocks retaining the reciprocating block in said socket7 and guide screws inserted ,through the back of the socket and carrying coil 'sp1-ings thereon, whereby said block is convtinally protruded in normal operation but '10 may recede upon striking a portion of the drill hole smaller than the freshly cut portion, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto' signed my name in the presenceof the two subscrlbed Wltnesses.

WLLIAM E. WETZEL. 

